‘The Night Watchman’ enjoys smooth kick-off

Actor Choi Won-young plays King Haejong, the father of Prince Yi Lin, in the fantasy historical television series “The Night Watchman.” (MBC)

MBC’s “The Night Watchman” opened with a smooth two-digit start, topping its rival Monday-Tuesday dramas in the audience viewer shares.

The first episode of the fantasy historical, aired on Tuesday, gaining a 10.9 percent audience share, edging out KBS’s “Trot Lovers” and SBS’s “Temptation” that rated 9.1 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively.

“The Night Watchman” is a period fantasy romance, set in the Joseon era under the fictional king Haejong’s reign. Actor Jung Il-woo and three lead characters played by actors Jung Yun-ho of boy band TVXQ, Go Sung-hee and Seo Yea-ji.

The first episode portrays the childhood of Prince Yi Lin, played by Jung, who is cursed by an evil ghost. His father, King Haejong, heads to the mountain with his troops to find the mysterious mountain tribe of Mago, who are believed to be able to save the cursed baby prince.